Chapter 10: Beginning and Ending the Speech

Ben, a former active street-gang member, is now a well-respected leader in a community center. In a speech seeking support for the center from a group of area businesses, which of the following would be the most attention-getting way for him to begin his talk?

"I am not who you think I am."

Svetlana is giving a speech in which she advocates for an increase in the U.S. budget for foreign aid. Which speech opener would be a good way for her to capture her audience's attention?

According to Chris Santos, a researcher for the World Food Organization, almost 500 million people depend on foreign aid.

Andre is almost finished with his speech on the importance of racially and ethnically inclusive politics. Which of the following would be an example of an effective concluding statement?

As Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, '"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

What is a recommended guideline to follow when starting your speech?

Don't start talking immediately.

True or false: Concluding a speech with a dramatic statement will confuse the audience into thinking that the speech continues.

False

True or false: One of the major functions of the conclusion of a speech is to establish your credibility with the audience.

False

Mari gives the following introduction for her speech on Yellowstone National Park: "I love the outdoors. Have you ever just sat outside and listened to the birds? It's extremely peaceful and a great way to unwind after a long week at work or school. A park, particularly a national park with a campground, is a perfect place to get out and enjoy the outdoors." Which of the following is true of Mari's introduction?

It does not reveal the topic.

Which of the following is not a true statement about the conclusion of a speech?

It is the part of the speech in which a speaker should try to establish rapport with the audience.

Annie is giving a speech on the dangers of drinking and driving and wants to end on an especially dramatic note to reinforce the serious consequences. Which of the following is a dramatic statement that fits Annie's goal?

Maybe you think you can get away with drunk driving, but you can't. Just hope you're caught before you hurt someone.

Which of the following is not a tip for preparing the conclusion of your speech?

Prepare a long conclusion.

Latifah begins her speech by asking, "Have you ever been walking down the street when suddenly you begin to feel lightheaded? Have you ever been standing in a store and had your vision go blurry? Have you ever been in a restaurant and for no reason break into a sweat?" Why does Latifah ask multiple questions?

She is drawing the listeners deeper into the speech.

Misty begins her conclusion by saying, "My purpose today has been to explain the benefits of eating organic produce. As you might know, these benefits extend not only to you but also to the environment." How is Misty's conclusion effective in cuing the audience that her speech is about to end?

She starts off with the phrase "my purpose today has been."

What is an essential function of the conclusion?

To reinforce the central idea of the speech

True or false: You should practice the delivery of the conclusion.

True Reason: Incorrect. You should work out the conclusion in detail and give yourself plenty of time to practice delivering it.

Which is true concerning the audience's attention during a speech introduction?

You risk losing your audience if you don't capture their interest in the introduction.

Morgan begins her speech by saying, "In Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says, 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' When she says this, what she means is that the names of things do not matter. What really matters is what things are. I believe this same concept can be applied to dogs. A lot of people automatically say that pit bulls are dangerous without taking their training or individual personalities into account." What tactic has Morgan used to capture her audience's attention?

beginning with a brief quotation

What is the term for the audience's perception of how well a person is qualified to speak on a given topic?

credibility

You should establish ______ in the introduction of the speech.

goodwill

Where should the importance of your topic be stated to gain the interest of the audience?

in the introduction of your speech

Juan is speaking at a senior center about the advantages of buying items online. Knowing that many of his listeners no longer drive, Juan makes a point of mentioning in his introduction that buying online is convenient and eliminates the need to go to a store. What technique for capturing his audience's attention has Juan used?

relating the topic to the audience

If you begin your speech by startling your audience with a provocative or shocking statement, you should be certain that this statement is:

relevant to your speech topic

If you are unable to capture the attention and interest of your audience during the speech introduction, you:

risk losing the audience

Erica begins her speech by saying, "Everyone, please stand up. Now I'll ask every other person, starting from this side of each row, to please sit down. Thank you. Those of you still standing represent 1 out of every 2 people in the class. As it happens, that is the proportion of people who will develop some type of invasive cancer in their lifetime." Erica has captured her listeners' attention by:

startling the audience

Karissa is giving a speech about malaria to her class. In her introduction she says, "According to the World Health Organization, about 3.4 billion people—almost one-half the world's population—are at risk for contracting malaria." Karissa is capturing the audience's attention by:

stating the importance of her topic

A good way to reinforce the central idea in the conclusion of your speech is to:

summarize your speech

Fatima is giving a speech on the three uses of apostrophes and ends her speech by saying, "In conclusion, we have looked at the important role of apostrophes in the English language. You now know that apostrophes can indicate possession, form a contraction, and indicate time and measurements." Fatima has:

summarized her main points to end her speech

An effective technique to use in the conclusion of your speech to reinforce the central idea is to refer to:

the introduction

Which is a major objective of the introduction of a classroom speech?

to reveal the topic

Trey plans to give a speech on the sophisticated measures used to make money difficult to counterfeit. He has prepared slides to show several features, including watermarks and color-shifting ink, that help identify real money. In addition to these slides, which of following is a visual aid that Trey might consider as an appropriate opener in his introduction to get the attention of his audience?

close-up, side-by-side photographs of a real $100 bill and a counterfeit $100 bill

Ahn begins her speech by saying, "Most of us have, at one time or another, belonged to a group that felt like family. This group probably had certain expectations for how you acted, maybe what you wore, even what you believed. But did this group dictate your every move? Did other members try to stop you from talking to your family or forbid you from going home? For five years my cousin Deidre experienced control like this. Who would impose these kinds of rules on another person? The answer: a cult." Ahn has captured her audience's attention by appealing to their:

curiosity

Which of the following is not one of the objectives of the introduction of a speech?

developing main points with examples and research

A conclusion that generates emotional appeal by fading gradually is called a ______ ending.

dissolve

Todd is giving a speech on the importance of investing. During his speech, he tells the audience that he has a degree in finance and has worked for a major brokerage for 10 years. What has Todd done by sharing this information?

established his credibility

Fergus is giving a speech on the importance of getting a home inspection before buying a house. In his introduction, he tells a story about his uncle, who refused to get an inspection because he thought it was too expensive but later had to spend thousands after the faulty electrical wiring started a fire in the kitchen. In his conclusion, Fergus refers to this story as a final way to reinforce his central idea. Fergus has:

given his speech psychological unity

For her preview statement in a speech on credit card debt, Michelle said, "I have struggled, as I'm sure others in this group have, with credit card debt, and that is what I wish to speak about this morning. Credit card debt is one of the major problems facing the U.S. consumer today. According to government sources, the credit card delinquency rate (that is, the percentage of credit card holders more than 90 days late in their payments) has risen 15% this year." Which of the following is a typical function of a preview statement that Michelle did not provide?

listing the main points of the speech

The statement in the introduction of a speech that identifies the main points to be discussed in the body is the

preview

Olivia begins her speech by saying, "My mom was a single mother, but she didn't raise me alone. My uncle James spent hours teaching me to ride my bike, helping me with my homework, and taking me to ballet classes. He was like a dad to me, and we were very close. Then, about five years ago, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. It had metastasized, and two months later, he was gone. I know what you're thinking: he must have been a smoker. But he wasn't. His live-in girlfriend, however, was. Secondhand smoke killed my uncle." What technique has Olivia used to open her speech and capture the audience's attention?

telling a story

If you were giving a speech on prostate cancer, which of the following would be a good way to begin the speech and capture the audience's attention?

telling a story about someone who has suffered from the illness

Katya is giving a speech about her passion for raising chickens to a group of gardeners in the city where she lives, and she is deciding what to say in the introduction to her speech. Which two aspects would likely gain the attention of the audience by directly relating her topic to them?

- Chickens help get rid of insects and other garden pests. - Composted chicken manure serves as an excellent fertilizer.

Which are reasons to use the conclusion to reinforce your speech's central idea?

- It will increase the audience's understanding. - It will make the last impression forceful and favorable. - It will strengthen the audience's commitment to the central idea.

Mei is giving a speech on caring for dogs. She has finished speaking on her final main point. Which two statements would be a good choice of words for Mei to signal that her speech is about to end?

- Let me end by saying that a dog can be an excellent addition to your family if you take the time to properly care for it. - As I've discussed in this speech, caring for a dog includes feeding it quality food, grooming it regularly, and taking the time to exercise it.

Tara is giving a speech on the how to get a U.S. passport for the first time. During her speech, she tells the audience the requirements for making an application and then the steps that must be followed. In her conclusion, she begins by saying, "In conclusion, when you apply for a passport, you will need proof of citizenship, a photo ID, a filled-out application form, and a photo that meets specific requirements. When you present these items at an acceptance facility, you will also need to pay a fee." In which two ways is Tara meeting the major objectives of a conclusion?

- She has signaled the end of her speech. - She has given a summary of the main points of the speech.

What are two reasons that speakers should pause for a moment after using a rhetorical question?

- The pause adds dramatic impact. - The pause gives the question time to sink in.

What are three recommended guidelines for using visual aids in the introduction of a speech?

- They should be in good taste. - They should relate directly to the speech topic. - They should be chosen strategically.

What are two major functions of the conclusion of a speech?

- letting the audience know you are ending the speech - reinforcing the audience's understanding of the central idea

Leila is giving a speech about a new café that recently opened near her college campus. Her audience consists of her fellow classmates. What are two ways she can relate her topic effectively to her listeners during the introduction?

- listing several tasty items the café sells that fit within student budgets - mentioning that the café's location makes it easy to stop there between classes

Which are objectives of the introduction?

- revealing the topic of your speech - establishing your credibility as a speaker - getting the attention and interest of the audience

If you were giving a speech on exercise, what would be two good ways to establish credibility and goodwill in your introduction?

- sharing how much experience you have with the subject of exercise - expressing your desire for the audience to be healthy

What two things should you try to achieve by practicing the introduction to your speech?

- the ability to maintain strong eye contact - a smooth delivery

What is the credibility of a speaker?

- the audience's perception that the speaker is qualified to - - - speak on the topic of the speech

True or false: Visual aids in a speech should be used only while presenting the main points in the body of the speech.

false

During her introduction Irene says, "Today I would like to discuss tips for building an audience for your blog, including choosing relevant and interesting material, participating in the blogging community, and getting others to link to your content." What has Irene accomplished?

previewed the body of her speech

Ending with a or an ______ is the most effective option for reinforcing the central idea in the conclusion of a speech.

quotation